U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Grassland Easements
Existing collection in use without an OMB Control Number
No
Regular
11/30/2023
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
3,615
0
11,955
0
2,115,000
0
The Migratory Bird Hunting and
Conservation Stamp Act (16 U.S.C. 718d(b)(3)) and the Safe,
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (P.L.
109-59, section 1119) authorize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service) to enter into grassland easements with private
landowners. Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
contains land use management regulations for rights-of-way, mineral
operations, and revenue sharing. Title 43 of the CFR contains
regulations pertaining to the Secretary of the Interior and to the
public lands. Title 41 of the CFR, Chapter 101, contains the
Federal Property Management Regulations, and Chapter 102 contains
the Federal Management Regulation. In addition, Service Manual Part
341 FW 6, Minimally Restrictive Conservation Easement Acquisition,
discusses the Service’s real property acquisition authorities and
responsibilities. Vast grasslands once covered much of North
America. Settlement, agriculture, and development have reduced
prairie habitats to a patchwork of isolated grasslands in a sea of
croplands, roads, and cities. Loss of grasslands is detrimental to
people as well as to wildlife. Grasslands help reduce soil erosion
caused by wind and water. They also filter chemicals, thus
protecting our water supplies. Vegetation such as grass, forbs, and
shrubs, help trap snow and rain. This allows a more regulated flow
of precipitation to seep into the ground, recharging water
supplies. Grasslands also provide season-long forage for livestock.
Many wildlife species depend on grasslands for food, cover, and
nesting sites. Protecting grasslands ensures that wildlife will be
there for future generations to enjoy. In the United States, the
Prairie Pothole Region is located within the northern Great Plains
in parts of Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South
Dakota. Characterized by thousands of shallow, glacially formed
wetlands known as potholes, the Prairie Pothole Region provides
habitat for globally significant populations of breeding waterfowl.
In addition, the Prairie Pothole Region is important as breeding
and migratory habitat for many species of grassland and
wetland-dependent birds. The Service acquires easements from
willing sellers only. Once approved, the easements are a permanent
(perpetual) easement between the Service and all present and future
landowners. A grassland easement is a legal agreement signed with
the United States of America, through the Service, that pays the
landowner to permanently keep their land in grass. Eligible
property must lie within an approved county and have potential
value to wildlife. Highest priority lands are large tracts of
grassland with high wetland densities; and native prairie or soils
most likely to be converted to cropland. Landowners retain the
right to open or close their lands to hunting and trapping, as they
have in the past. In addition, subsurface rights such as oil, gas,
and minerals are not affected. However, the easement may limit
enrollment or participation in U.S. Department of Agriculture
programs where base acres of cropland are used to determine program
eligibility, such as the Conservation Reserve Program. Landowners
should contact their local Farm Service Agency for information
regarding eligibility. Property subject to a grassland easement
remains on local tax rolls. By selling easements, landowners
receive funds to pay down debt, reinvest in capital improvements,
or buy other lands to maintain and/or expand working
lands.
PL:
Pub.L. 109 - 59 1119 Name of Law: Safe, Accountable, Flexible,
Efficient Transportation Equity Act
US Code:
16 USC 718d(b)(3) Name of Law: Migratory Bird Hunting and
Conservation Stamp Act
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Form 3-2573 Application Process (Form 3-2573) (Private Sector)
1018-New SSA Grassland Easements 08162023.docx
1018-New 30-day FRN Grassland Easements 11302023 88FR83573.pdf
Notification Requirement – Sale or Transfer of Lands (Private Sector)